Biden DOD orders air-to-air missiles for Ukraine in new Raytheon contract

The initial reported purchase under the agreement is for $7,688,220 and will use money from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), with the Pentagon saying the work is “expected to be completed by Nov. 29, 2024.”

According to a press release, the DOD announced that it awarded Raytheon Missiles and Defense the $192 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to be completed by November 29, 2024.

One Ukrainian official, Yuriy Ihnat told Air and Space Forces magazine, "The United States will supply Ukraine with AMRAAM aircraft missiles with a range of 160-180 km." He added, "AMRAAM are universal aviation missiles and can used for both fighters and air defense systems."

The outlet said that AMRAAM can be used as a surface-to-air by using a U.S.-Norwegian ground-based air-defense system already employed in the country, but President Volodymyr Zelenskey has stated that he expects to receive F-16 fighter jets by the beginning of the year.

This comes as the Biden administration announced on August 14 that it would be sending Ukraine another $200 million assistance package. The 44th shipment of munitions included munitions for Patriot air defense and High Mobility Artillery Rocket systems, mine clearing equipment, artillery rounds, tank ammunition, anti-armor systems, 37 tactical vehicles, 58 water trailers, and 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades.

Ukraine aid spending as of July 10 had reached $76 billion with $46.6 billion going to military and security assistance, $26.4 billion for financial assistance, and $3.9 billion for humanitarian assistance.

President Biden requested an additional $24 billion to assist in the war in Ukraine earlier this month. The request was part of a larger $40 billion package that had $3.9 billion to address the situation on the US border and $12 billion for disaster relief.

Previously, a $6.2 billion "accounting error" as was explained by the Pentagon freed up funds, which was used to send more aid to Ukraine.